From The Straits Times    |

 

OK, we admit it: We say we love the natural look, but we don’t really feel that comfortable going make-up free. Our foundations, concealers and primers are our armour – our comfort blanket. The root of the problem? Lack of confidence – we’re worried about exposing our flaws – pimples, redness, acne scars and the rest.

SK-II specialises in creating glowing, radiant complexions, and wants all women to feel comfortable makeup free, so it’s launched the #BareSkinProject – its boldest movement yet featuring celebrities Chun Xia, Kasumi Arimura, Mayu Matsuoka, Ni Ni, Tang Wei and Chloe Grace Moretz. The aim? To capture the most authentic vision of natural bared-faced beauty.

 

The #BareSkinProject includes a makeup-free photoshoot shot by famous photographers Christopher Anderson and Alessandra Sanguinetti, a video of intimate moments in the celebs’ lives as they prep their skin with SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, and street-style portraits in Tokyo, where participants reveal their bare faces to the public. The rules: zero makeup, and zero retouching – completely barefaced. We got to hear from 21-year-old Moretz about how she fared as she got photographed without make-up for the very first time.

What was your first reaction when you found out about the #BareSkinProject?
It was so refreshing to hear about a campaign that aims to embrace women’s natural beauty and spark a movement of authenticity and confidence. I knew that this was a perfect fit for me and what I represent. I was a bit anxious as this would be the first time I’d be photographed without makeup, but I was incredibly excited to be included in the project.

What does going bare-faced with no makeup mean to you?
As I grew up I became more confident without makeup because I focused on taking care of my skin, starting with the basics. I now find so much beauty in the simplicity of bare skin. Putting your bare skin forward into the world should be something all women feel comfortable doing and through the #BareSkin#Project, we hope to make them more confident in doing so.

How do you think your fans will react to such a campaign?
I think they will be excited about the authenticity of the project and the message of empowerment. This is such a naturalistic campaign and different from what I’ve done so far, which usually involves getting into character to become someone other than myself. With the #BareSkinProject, it was really refreshing to just be me and to let natural beauty and glow shine through.

How did you prepare for the photoshoot?
I started using SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence. I use it in the day and at night to help my skin lock in moisture. I felt that it has 100% helped. I wake up with a natural tone and glow to my complexion. It has given me clear and glowing skin, which made me feel so much more confident on set.

What was it like shooting for the #BareSkinProject?
It was a very exciting experience. From the video shoot to working with Christopher Anderson to working with Alessandra Sanguinetti, each shoot was very different and multi-faceted. It was nice to be able to show my bare-skin journey through the short film that showcases the whole shooting experience with the two photographers.

I think it’s great that a massive brand like SK-II is backing real raw beauty and allowing me to be completely bare-skinned and show who I am to the world on a global campaign level, which I think is shocking, incredible and exciting. It’s the right step forward in 2018 and personally, it felt very invigorating and freeing. I felt very confident after the shoot and I think even more so, I would wear my bare skin as a badge of honour now.

The #BareSkinProject is about inspiring women all over the world to embrace their natural skin beauty. What would you say to your fans who look up to you to encourage them to be more confident in their natural bare skin?
Embrace who you truly are! You don’t need to hide behind anything, including makeup. You don’t have to follow societal norms. Take care of your mental and physical health. I find that meditation, yoga and a daily workout keeps me grounded, focused and helps with confidence.

Images and short films from the #BareSkinProject are now displayed on SK-II’s Instagram page. For more information, follow the brand on IG at @skii or visit www.sk-ii.com.